1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

13/11/2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

Comments:

The reservoir is established out of natural and local materials available to community members and stores relatively clean/safe water for future use.

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

A gutter system constructed on the farmer’s house-roof collects rainwater and directs it into a constructed reservoir raised off the ground with interior walls lined with water-proof tarpaulin. The reservoir has a maximum capacity of 8,000 liters of water; clean enough for irrigation, livestock and domestic use during seasons of scarcity. The reservoir is raised off of ground to minimize contamination and any possible accidents.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The wooden water reservoir system was introduced to the farmer by staff of the area's local government as a demonstration site to educate others on how to cheaply harvest and store rainwater in a relatively clean form for domestic, livestock and irrigation use. The farmer’s house was fitted with gutters to tap rainwater and direct it into the water reservoir. The water collected is used to buffer the water scarcity during the dry season, which normally stresses livestock and crops in the area. The water can be stored for as long as three months, depending on the size of the water reservoir and the use of the water.

The establishment of the technology requires a clean roof for collecting rainwater, gutters, poles, iron sheets, tarpaulin, hose pipe, jerry can and nails. Further equipment required include; a hammer, hoe and panga (large knife for weeding and forest works). At the farm in Kyegegwa, the reservoir is constructed 3 meters away from the farmer’s main house located at the top of a gently sloping hill. The establishment process involves: leveling of the site on which the technology is planned and constructing a water reservoir supported by a wooden structure. The support structure is constructed using four poles made in such a way that the two front poles are taller (5m) while the two poles behind are shorter (3m). This will give the roof a slight slope to prevent rainwater from stagnating on the roof. A raised rectangular floor supported by the poles is then established at a height of 0.5m above ground. The rectangular reservoir base dimensions are 1m×4m×2m (h×l×w) and is divided into 4 compartment. Each of these, lined with water-tight tarpaulin, can hold 2000 litres of water. The water so collected in the reservoir can be extracted under gravity through a 1.5cm diameter hose pipe into a jerry can placed below the reservoir.

The cost of establishment and durability of this rainwater harvesting system is mainly dependent on the type of materials and gutters used. In Kyegegwa District, wood for construction of the system is locally available valued at US$ 67.99 for the construction of the reservoir system. The iron sheets, gutters and nails are acquired from Kyegegwa Town where they are valued at US$ 127.28. The labor required is also locally available where it takes four men to establish the structure at a total cost of US$ 17.95 in three days.

The water reservoir is semi-permanent and can last for about 1.5 years depending on the quality of materials used. The maintenance activities include cleaning of the reservoir every month and repairing of the worn out parts at the end of the wet season. The farmer strongly recommends the technology since most of the materials and labour used are relatively cheap and locally available. The reservoir is raised off the ground to reduce contamination and minimize possible accidents with children and livestock. Despite the open space above the water level and the roof, the farmer has observed that the reservoir does not breed obnoxious vectors like mosquitoes. The water collected is relatively clean and the farmer uses it for irrigation of home gardens and for watering of livestock. When properly filtered it is as well used for domestic purposes. The technology can be improved by using treated poles, stronger wood material and tarpaulin of improved quality.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2015

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Local Government project to help local farmers adopting water storage systems for use during drought.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

March-May and Sept-Nov. However, due to climate change, the seasons vary significantly in length and amount of rain recieved.

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• water harvesting

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

To provide safe water for domestic, livestock and irrigation use especially during the drought period.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• adapt to land degradation

Comments:

Harvesting rain water reduces the need for constructing dams.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The support structure is constructed using four poles made in such a way that the two front poles are taller (5 m) while the two poles behind are shorter (3 m), giving the roof a slight slope to prevent rainwater from stagnating on the roof. A raised rectangular floor supported by the poles is then established at a height of 0.5 m above ground. A cuboid reservoir of dimensions 1 m×4 m×2 m (h×l×w) is constructed with wooden panels; divided into four compartments and placed on the rectangular floor. Each compartment, to hold 2,000 liter of water, is lined with water-tight tarpaulin. Water from the reservoir can be extracted under gravity through a 1.5 cm diameter hose pipe into a jerry can placed below the reservoir.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

other/ national currency (specify):

Uganda shillings

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

3638.35

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Site selection	Structural	Before onset of rain
2.	Clearing and leveling	Structural	Before onset of rain
3.	Erection of poles	Structural	Before onset of rain
4.	Establishment of floor, walls and roofing	Structural	Before onset of rain
5.	Establishment of taupline and gutters	Structural	Before onset of rain

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Builders	Man day	8.0	22500.0	180000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hammer	pieces	30000.0	1.0	30000.0	100.0
Equipment	Panga	pieces	9000.0	1.0	9000.0	100.0
Equipment	Dibber	pieces	15000.0	1.0	15000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	pieces	10000.0	1.0	10000.0	100.0
Plant material	Spade	pieces	15000.0
Plant material	Poles	pieces	12.0	3000.0	36000.0	100.0
Plant material	Timber	pieces	12.0	10000.0	120000.0	100.0
Plant material	Wood	pieces	8.0	1500.0	12000.0	100.0
Construction material	Tarpaulin	peices	1.0	45000.0	45000.0
Construction material	Iron sheet	peices	6.0	25000.0	150000.0
Construction material	Nails	Kg	4.0	6000.0	24000.0
Construction material	Hose pipe	Meters	3.0	3000.0	9000.0
Construction material	Wood and poles	Pieces	50.0	4900.0	245000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					885000.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Kyegegwa District Local Government Community Development Fund.

Comments:

The poles and wood are from the farmer's forest. The labor used was also family labor.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Cleaning the reservoir/ tarpaulin and unblocking gutters	Management	Twice in the wet season
2.	Renovation of the structure	Structural	Once a year
3.	Replacement of the taupline	Structural	Once a year

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Men		2.0	20000.0	40000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hose pipe	meters	3.0	2000.0	6000.0	100.0
Equipment	Jerrycans	20litres	2.0	9000.0	18000.0	100.0
Construction material	Poles	pieces	6.0	3000.0	18000.0	100.0
Construction material	Timber	pieces	6.0	10000.0	60000.0	100.0
Construction material	Wood	pieces	5.0	1500.0	7500.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					149500.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Kyegegwa District Local Government

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The nature of material used for example wood or metal and the labor hired to construct the system.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
extended growing period	well
Livestock and domestic water	well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 50-90%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Yes

other (specify):

Limited finances

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

The farmer improvised iron sheets as gutters to collect water from the roof into the reservoir.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Most of the materials are cheap and locally available.
The establishment process is not so complex and can easily be learnt by the local workers.
The tarpaulin used is relatively cheap and long lasting.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The farmer easily benefits from 2 annual rainy seasons.
The system is raised off ground which minimizes contamination and accidents.
The water is kept in a relatively clean status for livestock, irrigation and domestic use.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
The water system is open to contamination.	Need to construct a wall net to protect the water from contamination
The materials (wood) used are prone to destruction by insects which increases maintenance costs.	Use of metallic or concrete poles

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The taupline is a temporally reservoir that needs routine replacement.	Use of plastic materials or construction of concrete walls.
In case of infestation with insects like termites, the poles will suffer damage.	Use treated wood poles or metal poles.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Rain Water Harvesting Handbook, Ministry of Water and Environment

Available from where? Costs?

https://www.mwe.go.ug/sites/default/files/library/Rain%20Water%20Harvesting%20Handbook.pdf

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Rainwater Reservoirs above Ground Structures for Roof Catchment

URL:

http://www.itacanet.org/doc-archive-eng/water/Rainwater_reservoirs_GTZ.pdf